I Don't Wanna Dance Alone – Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2024

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아 Credits

Jang Huddle

Choreographer/Director

Cindy Yunha Jang-Barlow 장윤하

Performers

Angela Yang 杨安

Caryn Yachinta

Elsa Lee

France Tan 陳福財

HyeJin Jeon 전혜진

MinJae Kim 김민재

Joanne Huang

Jiwoo Yeam 염지우

Samantha Cheong 张议云

Kevin Tay 郑善阳

Sophia Zhang 李惠敏

Timothy Romero

Xixi Xian 冼娜玛莉

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Credits

Producer

Alice Kirker

Sound Composer

Rewind Fields – Callum Lee

Costume Design

Jieying Cai 蔡杰盈

Set Design

Mathilde Polmard

Lighting Design

Paul Bennett

Graphic Design & Photographer

Brandon Lin

Stage Manager

Lara Chuo

Visual Design Support

Stephanie Kim

50mins no interval

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Acknowledgements

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone is supported by

Jang Huddle would like to thank: Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival team, Creative New Zealand, Alice Canton, Carlene Newall De Jesus, Casey Yeoh, George Jang-Barlow, Stephanie Kim, Stephanie Phan, Jefferson Chen, Jamila Chen, Ming Qian, Xin Ji, Weichu Huang, Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga, Auckland Theatre Company, and Massive Theatre Company.

Thank you to everyone who made the development stage of our shows last year possible.

We acknowledge that we are Tangata Te Tiriti, Tauiwi in Aotearoa. We are committed to continuously learning and supporting Tangata Whenua. We want to show our willingness to listen, understand and grow.

Creative Notes

Creative Notes

Creative Notes

Creative Notes

A note from the creator

After a successful developmental phase at The Factory Theatre in Onehunga, we’re thrilled to present our production at Te Ahurei Toi O Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival.

Transport yourself into 2004, but an alternate, dreamscape version of 2004.

Picture a young performer, nerves tingling with the anticipation of their first dance performance. That’s where our journey begins.

This piece delves into my personal narrative, reflecting on my upbringing and the yearning for greater representation of Asian voices in contemporary dance within traditional theatre and dance spaces. It’s a journey marked by isolation from dance studios and separation from my South Korean roots, tied to the longing to heal my inner child.

Creative Notes

Creative Notes

Through a community-driven approach, we aim to showcase that everyone, regardless of their dance background, can take part in movement!

Merging my passion for community engagement and contemporary dance, this production delves into intergenerational themes, nostalgia and the joy of dancing.

If you’re new to contemporary dance, know that you’re not alone! The majority of our cast members are stepping into the world of contemporary dance for the first time, learning and performing alongside you.

Every individual involved has dedicated considerable time and energy to this project.

We aspire to share the joy of community and movement with as many people as possible, because dancing is for everyone!

Creative

Creative Notes

Let’s dance together; we don’t want to dance alone!

Ngā mihi, 감사합니다, Cindy Yunha 윤하

Creative Notes

Biographies – Creative Team

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Creative Team

The Valentina Creative Notes

Cindy Yunha

Jang-Barlow 장윤하 Choreographer/ Director

Cindy 윤하 is a 1.5 generation Korean-Kiwi and an independent choreographer, director, producer, dance facilitator and advocate for community arts. Cindy is all about supporting the arts community, multidisciplinary art, collaborations, and sharing stories that are both challenging and engaging.

She created Jang Huddle in 2017 after completing a Bachelors in Dance Studies (Honours) from The University of Auckland. Jang Huddle is a moving collective that aims to enhance diverse stories through movement and art collaborations.

Her debut production Iron Eyes, about the sociopolitical conflict of North and South Korea, performed at The Basement Theatre in 2018. It explored ideas of conflict, oppression and control through the lens of a 1.5 generation Korean.

These ideas resonate in her other works such as the audience-interactive piece about the international aisle in New Zealand Supermarkets

The Valentina

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Creative Team

Creative Notes

and the feelings of displacement for a 1.5 generation Korean in Aotearoa, Il Jum Oh (Wellesley studios, 2018); a street performance with violinists and audiences smashing Christmas ornaments, Have a Smashing Xmas (First Thursdays, 2019); the free community events promoting creative use of park spaces through dance workshops and performances, Dancing in Parks (Albert-Eden Local Board, 2019, 2020, 2021); the interdisciplinary art festival linedup with 15 BIPOC artists, Garden of Celebration (Raynham Park, Waitemata Local board, 2019); the mindfulness centered art space at Strange Haven with performances and exhibitions, R+R (Fringe Festival, 2021); and a new iteration of I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone with four cast members, Irago – 이라 – Said So (Melbourne Fringe Festival, 2023).

Cindy has also collaborated and performed with multiple artists and organisations such as Yona Lee (Auckland Art Gallery), Imugi (Laneway Festival), Proudly Asian Theatre (Orientation), Tempo Dance, Splore, Fringe Festival, Auckland Art Week and more.

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone received The Asian Artists Fund from Foundation North and Creative New Zealand (2022–23) for the development of the project.

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

The Valentina Creative Notes

Angela Yang 杨安

24

Chinese Judges’ Clerk

Dance background just K-pop tutorials on YouTube!

How do you feel when you dance? It feels like being part of something greater than myself.

Caryn Yachinta

28

Indonesian Community Mental Health Specialist

Dance background

Growing up with traditional Indonesian dances, I’ve embraced movement as a lifelong passion, redefining the concept of a “good dancer” along the way.

How do you feel when you dance? Dancing feels like a silent conversation, where every step speaks volumes, leaving me feeling interconnected, alive, and deeply fulfilled.

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

The Valentina Creative Notes

Elsa Lee

17

Kiwi-Chinese-Korean Student at TGS

Dance background I’ve done dance at school before in year 9 but this is my first time doing contemporary dance. However, I love to dance, mainly hip-hop and K-pop.

Describe I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone in three words: Interesting, Magnificent, and Fun

France Tan 陳福財

30

Filipino-Chinese Quality Officer

Dance backgorund

My first experience with contemporary dance is with IDWDA in 2022. I did street, dancesports, and wushu in the past.

How do you want people to feel when they leave the theatre? I hope they feel lighter. I hope the show sparks something within them.

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

The Valentina Creative Notes

The Valentina Creative Notes

Biographies – Performers

HyeJin Jeon 전혜진

47

Korean Translator

Dance background

None except some cheerleading experience in my early twenties. Contemporary dance is new to me.

How do you feel when you dance? I feel like I give healing and freedom to my body.

MinJae Kim 김민재

10

Korean Student

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

Joanne Huang

14

Chinese Student Dance background

I’ve done a bit of contemporary dancing but not for a show before.

What made you want to get involved with I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone?

I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and do something that I haven’t done before. I also thought that it would be a fun way to use my time.

Jiwoo Yeam 염지우

17

Korean-Kiwi Student Dance background

Contemporary is my favourite style of dance and my passion for contemporary dance comes from my love for creativity and exploring movement.

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

The Valentina Creative Notes

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

The Valentina Creative Notes

Samantha Cheong

张议云 24

Malaysian-Chinese Music Journalist

Dance background

This is my first time dancing contemporary.

I used to enjoy movement through wushu martial arts.

How do you want people to feel after seeing I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone?

I want them to feel inspired, to be a little more fearless in things they either enjoy but are shy about, or things they hope to try.

Kevin Tay 郑善阳 31

Malaysian-Chinese Software developer

Dance background

It’s my first time doing contemporary dance!

I’ve only briefly dabbled in ballroom dancing when I was in high school.

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

The Valentina Creative Notes

Sophia Zhang 李惠敏

46

Chinese Finance Officer

Dance background

I don’t have a dance background. This is my first contemporary dance experience with I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone since 2022. I love music and dance.

How do you feel when you dance?

Joyful, fun and tired but want to keep dancing.

Timothy Romero

26

Filipino Dancer

Dance background

It’s my first time dancing contemporary and I love the contrast with my street dance background!

What made you want to get involved with I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone? I was interested in the idea of having non-dancers perform a piece and just show how you can be free to express yourself.

I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone 혼자 춤추고 싶지 않아

Biographies – Performers

Xixi Xian 冼娜玛莉

30 Chinese-Kiwi Wellbeing service provider

Dance background I did one term of dance in year 9, it was my first time doing a contemporary dance show at the I Don’t Wanna Dance Alone development showing in 2023.

What can people expect from the show?

Be prepared to be surprised, expect art-forms embodied by “non-traditional” everyday artists and movers; and fun, joy and mixed emotions.

Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival champions changemaking, the environment, ambitious ideas, powerful voices and unique experiences that open our eyes, our hearts and our minds.

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